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Everything Happens in Ba Sing Se	By : CanadianGirl Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Het - Male/Female > Mai/Zuko Views: 4070 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
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Everything Happens in Ba Sing Se

Chapter 8: This is Getting Ridiculous

"I think that's the first time I've ever seen all of the councilmen smiling at once," Mai remarked. "It's like a miracle."

Mai was officially pregnant, three months so, and together they had told a very pleased group of councilmen the news.

"I know," Zuko agreed. "Maybe they'll shut up for awhile and leave us alone."

"I doubt that. They'll be sniffing around, inquiring after my health and measuring my belly. You were paranoid about them watching us make a baby. I'm paranoid about them hovering around during my entire pregnancy."

"I won't allow it," Zuko replied defensively. "No one and I mean no one will upset my wife, especially while she's carrying our child."

He reached out and put his warm hand flat against Mai's abdomen. He couldn't feel anything yet, but when Mai stood naked before him, in the privacy of their rooms, he noticed the subtle changes to her body. Her breasts were slightly larger and seemed somehow heavier. Her belly had a tiny bump, barely noticeable, but their baby was doing its best to make its presence known.

Mai's mood had been all over the place too and morning and evening dates with the washbasin were almost a daily occurrence. He hated when she felt ill and would stand with her, rubbing tiny heated circles on her back, handing her wash cloths and pinning back her hair. It was the least he could do. Mai was the one who had to carry the baby, deliver it and suffer all the aches and pains that went along with a pregnancy, after all. All Zuko needed to do was support her. His part was easy.

"That's good; you had better keep them away. I plan on wearing my blades even when I'm delivering."

Zuko snorted at the image of Mai grunting and sweating, baby set to emerge and knife brandished in one hand, ready should a pesky councilman dare to poke his head into the birthing room. He knew that her aim would be just as true as always too; Mai simply didn't miss, no matter what.

"You know I mean it," she emphasized.

Zuko kissed the tip of her nose and stared at her admiringly. "Oh, I know."

Touching Mai had always been a large part of how Zuko communicated his emotions, desires and his love. As her pregnancy progressed, he found himself wanting to touch her more and more. Iroh called having a baby a wonder, nature's miracle and now that the process was proceeding healthily before his very eyes, Zuko had no choice but to agree. Nearly every day, Mai's body showed a slight change. The Fire Lord ran his hands over and over the now visible bump, and caressed her breasts, much larger now and so tender and sore. The fire in his hands could ease a lot of Mai's discomfort, so she craved the touch just as much as Zuko did. Besides that, the sensation of his slightly calloused fingers and palms on her was delicious and soothing and made her feel very, very much adored.

Her appetite for sex, always more than robust, peaked towards the end of her sixth month. Mai was literally insatiable, cornering her husband in closets and disused rooms, his office, the gardens and the library. Then at night, in bed, she was ready for more. It was Zuko who was exhausted now.

"You're not sleeping, are you?" she questioned him one night. When Mai got no response, she poked Zuko hard in the side. He jerked and then said something incomprehensible before turning over to look at his tormentor.

"Again?" he asked. "Agni, Mai, all this sex is great and all, but I need sleep too. I have to work tomorrow."

"Just a quick one," she breathed seductively, shifting closer to Zuko, rubbing her body up against his.

He was gone then, in the feel and the smell of her. "Okay," he breathed back and began to kiss up and down her entire body, spending extra time on her belly.

The quick one ended up being an extended one and Zuko got very little sleep. Needless to say, he was a cranky Fire Lord the next morning.

"You look, how shall I put this diplomatically," Kenji mused, with one finger resting on his chin, "like crap."

"It's all the sex, Kenji. Mai's killing me." The Fire Lord dropped his head down onto his desk and closed his eyes. "Let me sleep for just five minutes. I'll be okay after that."

"My heart bleeds, my friend, it bleeds." The advisor shook his head and put on a mock sympathetic face. "You're probably the only man who has ever, in the history of the world, complained about too much sex."

"I love it, Kenji; but Mai can sleep during the day. I can't, well, I can, but it wouldn't look good."

"Who cares? You work hard; if you need a nap, take one. Look, I'll leave and close the door. You sleep."

"All right, I suppose that it couldn't hurt. Thanks, Kenji."

Zuko was out within seconds and slept blissfully for two hours.

"You look rested," Mai observed at dinner. She placed her hands atop her belly and eyed her husband like a hawk would a rabbit mouse. "Up for some fun after?" Slowly and deliberately, Mai raised her chopsticks, put a piece of chicken in her mouth and then licked her lips.

How could Zuko say 'no' to that? "Um, yeah, I'd love some fun." Zuko noticed a faint stirring down below. "What did you have in mind?"

"Hmm, I feel like a lovely warm bath with my husband. You can wash my hair and," she paused, "other things."

The faint stirring quickly became complete arousal. Zuko pushed back his chair, stood up and held out a hand to his wife. "I've had enough to eat. How about you?"

Mai gave him a smirk and a nod. She took his hand and together they entered the huge, luxurious bathroom. Zuko began to fill the roomy tub first and then undressed quickly and efficiently. Mai peeled off her clothes and waited for Zuko to warm the water to the temperature that she preferred, very warm, almost hot.

Once done, he climbed down the tub's small set of stairs and stood in the water. "Perfect," he said temptingly. "Come on in, Mai." He began to stroke himself then and his eyes roamed Mai's pale body.

The Fire Lady eyed Zuko hungrily in return and wasted no more time. Daintily, she descended the steps and let herself sink into the wonderful heat. "Oh, feels so good." She glanced at Zuko again. "Oh, looks so good."

Water was the perfect place for a pregnant woman. She felt lighter there, buoyed up, surrounded by support. Mai could understand now why in some cultures, women gave birth while in water. It was appealing, but the royal physician and the midwife would certainly have no part of it.

Zuko let his own body sink into the water too and gently tugged Mai over to his side of the bathtub. She settled herself against him and practically purred as his hardness made contact with her bottom.

"I'm going to wash your hair now." Zuko kissed her neck and reached back for the large ladle used to scoop up water and rinse. He filled it and let the warm water run down Mai's head, continuing until her ebony hair was drenched completely.

"What shampoo are you going to use?" Mai asked almost drowsily. "The vanilla?"

"No, the almond," Zuko answered softly. He kissed her neck again and picked up the pretty bottle.

Pouring some into his hand, he made a good lather and then began to massage his wife's scalp. Mai leaned back closer into Zuko, relishing the feel of his muscular chest and strong arms against her back. The Fire Lord let his hands drift down, caressing her breasts, feeling the weight of them in his hands. When he tweaked her nipples, Mai gasped and began to grind her behind into Zuko's lap.

"Patience," Zuko breathed in her ear. "I've got more washing to do." He rinsed out her hair, letting his fingers run through the silky strands. Mai's hair, when it was wet, looked like the finest obsidian, and Zuko never tired of either looking at it or feeling it. "I love your hair," he whispered.

"You'd better hurry up and start loving some other parts." Mai reached beneath the water to touch herself, but Zuko grabbed hold of her hands.

"No," he reprimanded her. "Just hang on a few more minutes."

Reaching for a cloth next, he rubbed some almond scented soap into the material and then began the process of washing Mai, every single bit of her. He stroked and teased, moved her about so that he could reach those more elusive spots, and had her thrumming with desire and lust. As he stared at her trembling limbs and her chest that rose and fell rapidly, Mai reminded Zuko of lightning; raw power just waiting to be unleashed.

"Now," she growled and pushed Zuko hard against the wall of the tub.

She perched herself atop his hardness, letting its length sink into her fully, before she began to gyrate. Her rounded belly was between them, a powerful reminder of their love. Zuko ran his hands along her sides and over the swollen mound, before kissing her almost savagely, biting at her lips and tongue.

Mai continued to rock while Zuko thrust himself upwards, deeper inside, as deep as he could go. They came together a few minutes later, Mai grabbing hold of Zuko's shoulders and slamming him back into the hard marble. It was awhile before their breathing evened out and the ripples in the water settled down.

"Maybe I should wash you now," Mai suggested with a crooked little smile.

"Please," Zuko agreed. "Let me get you the shampoo."

"I think that I've settled on yellow," Mai informed her husband about two weeks later.

The nursery had been painted three times already. Each time, Mai had been 'certain' of the colour. Each time, she had changed her mind.

"Yellow," Zuko repeated with little enthusiasm. "A week ago you said that it was insipid."

"Well, I've changed my mind," Mai snarled. "A pregnant woman has every right to do that. And I must have been thinking of something else. Yellow is very soothing and cheerful and it's the colour of the sun. How could we go wrong?"

The Fire Lord let out a long sigh. "I don't care anymore, Mai. Just stick with something; well, not black and not purple and not pink."

"Yellow; I'm completely sure. I'm going to call in the painters again and have some new drapes made and I've got to see about cushions and fabric for the furniture and carpeting. How about white for the blankets? White and yellow look good together, or is that too girly?"

"Go with what you think, Mai. We can always change it, even after the baby comes." He slid his hands around Mai's disappearing waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. "The important thing is that you're happy and healthy."

"I am, Zuko. This palace is starting to close in on me a little bit, though. It feels as though I haven't gone anywhere for ages. Do you think we could take a little trip?"

"I'll have to talk with the physician and the midwife. You're almost seven months pregnant, Mai. What if you go into labor?"

"Then, I'll have the baby wherever we are. Women have been delivering babies since forever, Zuko. It's not a complicated procedure. It's natural." She turned around to face her husband. Mai's eyes were narrowed as she examined her husband's expression.

"That's true, but what if there are problems? What if your life is in danger?" He ran a finger along her cheek and then kissed where his finger had been.

"Why can't we bring the midwife along? She's delivered countless babies and encountered all kinds of problems. I know, because she's told me all the stories. Come on, Zuko, just a quick visit with Iroh. We might just hit strawberry season again. I've got a real craving for them, oh and those wonderful pickled eggs that were thrown against our carriage; do you remember? I want some of those too."

"We can get pickled eggs here, Mai." His argument was feeble and Zuko knew already that he had lost.

"Yes, but we can't get fresh strawberries. Mmm, strawberries and cream and your uncle's special citrus tea. I'm starving." Mai left the disheveled looking nursery and headed for the kitchen. She popped her head back in the door for a moment. "I'll make sure that the room is finished before we leave."

"I guess we're going to Ba Sing Se," Zuko muttered under his breath. "Not like I had a choice."

It was three weeks before they finally left for Ba Sing Se, the midwife, an interesting and very blunt woman in her late fifties named Erina, in tow.

"I still wish that you would have just stayed home," Erina mentioned to Mai for the tenth time the morning of their departure. "You're seven and a half months along. By the time we get there and spend some time, you'll be eight months. The baby could arrive then.

"And I wish that we could have left you behind," the Fire Lady replied tartly. "If you're going to nag like this the entire trip, maybe we should just drop you out of the airship."

"Hmph, I wouldn't do that, my lady. You might very well need my services. Or you could try to find someone in Ba Sing Se who is equally skilled and experienced on short notice." The midwife was also extremely confident.

Mai had to admit that Elina knew her stuff. And she felt easy with the idea of the woman delivering her child. Mai didn't want to find someone else. And Zuko, of course, would have brought then entire palace staff along if he could have.

"Well, my mother was late with both me and my brother, two weeks overdue." Mai wondered if that sort of thing ran in families.

Erina ran a hand over her mousy brown hair and looked at Mai with her brown eyes. "Sometimes that runs in families," she stated as if reading Mai's mind.

"What's that?" Zuko asked as he rejoined them in the small sitting area.

The Fire Lord had been out on the deck enjoying the view and getting some fresh air. He wished that the damned airship would just arrive already. He felt a bit agitated and uncomfortable with the entire trip, though the opportunity to spend some time with Iroh was always hard to pass up.

"Erina was saying that I might go over my due date, since my mother did for both her pregnancies." Mai moved closer to Zuko and slipped her hand into his.

"Oh, really, is that bad? How long overdue?" He looked concerned and instinctively placed a hand on Mai's large stomach.

"All right; stop it, both of you. No amount of speculation will tell us a damnable thing. The baby will come when the baby comes. As long as I'm there, you have no worries." Erina pulled a book out of her bag and began to read. The young couple, her lord and lady, had been dismissed.

"Well," Mai mused, "So much for conversation with her. Come outside with me? I could use some air now." She tugged on her husband's hand and dragged him back out onto the deck.

Strawberry season was just beginning. Mai moaned with delight when she spotted the baskets of plump, red berries in the marketplace.

"Stop the carriage." She shouted and banged on the wall that separated her from the driver. "I want some strawberries."

Zuko, dressed, of course, in Earth Kingdom green, and with his bangs hiding a good portion of his face, dutifully climbed out of the parked carriage and purchased three heaping baskets of strawberries. Mai's eyes lit up as soon as her husband stepped back up and into the seat beside her.

"Mmm, Agni, they smell so good. Hand one of those baskets over." By the time their carriage arrived outside the Jasmine Dragon, Mai had finished off half a basket already. "I hope Iroh has cream," she sighed as she popped one more berry into her mouth.

Iroh greeted them with his usual warmth and assured Mai that he did indeed have a good supply of cream.

"Mind if I go help myself?" she asked and headed off into the kitchen with her half basket of berries.

"Feel free," Iroh called after her. "She looks good, nephew, hungry but good."

"She's beautiful," Zuko agreed. His face had that special expression, the one it wore only when he thought of Mai.

"And this must be Erina. Welcome, lovely lady, to the Jasmine Dragon." Iroh beamed at the midwife and then gave her a broad wink. "I hope that you enjoy your stay."

"I heard that you're quite the ladies' man," Erina replied. "But I wasn't aware of just how handsome you are; oh, my." She fanned herself dramatically. "Perhaps you could make me some of your famous tea."

"Indeed, it would be my pleasure," Iroh grinned. "Give me the rest of those berries, nephew. I'll take them into the kitchen."

"He's met his match," Zuko muttered as he handed over the baskets and plunked himself down into a chair.

A lone customer, one of Iroh's regulars, gave the Fire Lord a pointed look. "No one could ever match your uncle, young man."

"True enough," Zuko agreed. "True enough."

Mai came out of the kitchen, two heaping bowls of strawberries and cream on a tray. She glanced at the customer, who gave her a shy smile, then put the tray down in front of her husband. "Don't they look incredible," she exclaimed. "Here, eat."

Zuko wasn't that hungry, but Mai's enthusiasm for the treat was infectious. He picked away at the berries, and watched with amused interest as Mai ate quickly and efficiently.

"I love you," he mouthed when she looked up from her bowl.

Mai just smiled and scooped up another berry.

The next week or so was a restful one. Mai and Zuko lazed in bed late, Zuko sometimes bringing breakfast up so the two could enjoy it together while lounging beneath the covers. They took leisurely walks through the streets of Ba Sing Se, buying a few things for the baby, and then returning to the Jasmine Dragon to eat dinner with Iroh. Evenings were spent out in the garden sipping one of Iroh's delicious brews and enjoying the night sky.

The tea maker, meanwhile, was getting along famously with Erina. The pair took their own walks, Iroh only too happy to show the midwife the sites of Ba Sing Se, and had some intense pai sho battles. Erina always found time to examine Mai, though, giving the Fire Lady a thorough one every day.

"Damn it, Erina; that hurts. Do you have to press down so hard?" Mai was stretched out on her bed, tunic pulled up and huge belly exposed. Zuko stood silently by the bed, watching everything.

"Yes, I do. And you know nothing of pain, young lady."

Mai rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out once Erina's back was turned. Zuko slapped a hand over his mouth and pretended to cough.

"How is Mai doing?" he asked politely.

"Everything is as it should be. The baby is a good size too." She patted Mai's belly and then pulled her tunic down. "I do suggest that we get going home soon, unless you prefer to give birth here."

"Fine," Mai sighed. "We'll leave the day after tomorrow. Is that okay with you, Zuko?"

"I'll go let Iroh know." He bent down to kiss Mai tenderly, let his eyes linger on her belly, then left the room, off to find his uncle.

"It's been wonderful seeing you again." Iroh poured everyone another cup of lemon chamomile tea and then sat back down at the table.

It was the night before Zuko's and Mai's departure. Iroh, with Erina's competent help, had made a special dinner in honour of his soon to arrive great niece or great nephew.

"We love coming here, Uncle. It's our second home." Zuko looked at Iroh warmly, the urge to hug him almost overwhelming.

"That's the way it should feel when you're here. And that little baby you are carrying, Mai, I want him or her to feel the same way, for as long as I'm around and perhaps even after."

Mai was touched and felt tears stinging her eyes. "We'll bring the baby as often as we can."

"Ah, I do wish that I could be around for the birth. But, I've so much to do here, so many obligations, what with the Order of the White Lotus meetings and neighborhood organizations and my second tea shop opening soon."

"How are you going to manage that?" Erina asked. "Who will run the other tea shop?"

"I'm still looking for a manager I feel truly good about. Until then, I'll have to divide my time, perhaps keep shorter hours at the second shop. Anyway, that's a problem I don't mind having."

Mai, finished with her meal, leaned back and watched her husband as he continued to chat with Iroh and Erina. She felt an uncomfortable sort of twinge in her lower abdomen and a dull pain in her lower back. The pains continued for the next hour or so, though she said nothing, and then she felt a trickle of water run down her leg.

"What's wrong, Mai?" Zuko jumped up from his seat and ran around the table to his wife. "You look like you're in pain."

"Um, I think that I'm in labor, Zuko." Mai looked a bit frightened now, but nothing compared to the Fire Lord.

"What? Now? You're a month early. Damn it, Erina, do something quickly."

"Whoa, slow down; let's help Mai upstairs and let me examine her. There's no need to panic. If she's in labor, you'll have a baby soon. If she's not, I'll know."

After a brief check over, Erina made the announcement. "She's definitely in labor and her water just broke completely. My lord, if you're going to stay here with your wife, I want you to make yourself useful; no fainting or screaming, understood? And be prepared for a long labor; first ones usually are."

It seemed that the little prince or princess was having none of that; it wanted out and it wanted out now. Mai's labor progressed at a frighteningly rapid rate and her pain level with it.

"Hold my hand," she demanded.

Zuko offered his hand and Mai held on tightly, pressing the tips of her nails deep into his flesh. He bit his tongue, not wanting to complain about that little bit of pain when his wife was in agony.

"Get me some cold water," she demanded next.

Dutifully, Zuko poured her a cup of water and held it while she sipped. Mai's hands were tangled up in the sheets now and she let out a low moan as another contraction hit.

"Oh, Mai," Zuko whispered.

He did all that he could; wiped her brow, rubbed her back, encouraged her, allowed her to strike out at him when the pain was too much to bear.

"It hurts so much," Mai gasped. "Oh, Agni, would you just rip it out of my already. I want to push now. Can I push?"

Erina checked Mai's progress again and then grinned. "Push!"

The Fire Lady reached for Zuko's hand and with an undignified sounding grunt, pushed with all her strength.

"You're amazing." Zuko whispered close to her ear. "It's almost over, Mai."

"How in Agni's name would you know that?" She grit her teeth together and pushed some more.

"I'm trying to comfort you." Zuko looked offended and hurt.

"Just shut up and hold my hand!"

He did as he was told and soon enough the ordeal was over. There was a reward for all the pain, though; a beautiful, tiny princess, with perfect little fingers and perfect little toes, narrow gold eyes and a head full of thick, black hair.

"Look, Mai, she's a teeny tiny you." Zuko placed the infant in Mai's arms. He looked at his two girls with wonder and the love he felt for both of them at that moment was indescribable. Zuko wanted nothing more than to care for and protect Mai and the baby, now and for the rest of his life.

"She's, she's amazing." The new mother stroked the girl's head and looked deep into her eyes. "I love her so much already. It's kind of scary."

"I know," Zuko agreed.

Iroh, having heard the newborn's cries, opened the door a crack, waiting for permission to enter. Erina pulled the door open all the way.

"Well?" the tea maker asked excitedly.

"You have a perfect little great niece," the midwife informed him. "It's all right. Go ahead and take a peek. I'll leave you all alone for a bit."

"Thank you, Erina, for delivering the child safely." Iroh put a hand on her arm and gave it a squeeze.

"Mai did all the work. I just caught the baby." She laughed then and headed downstairs for a cup of well deserved tea.

Zuko beckoned Iroh over. "Come here, Uncle. Come see the baby."

Almost reverently, Iroh peeked down at the child in Mai's arms. "Oh, she's precious. You're a very lucky young man, Zuko. You have a family now, a real family of your own. And she was born in my tea shop. I'm honoured."

Zuko chuckled. "Yeah, it seems that everything important in our lives happens here. It's getting ridiculous."

"Would you like to hold her, Iroh?" Mai gave up the warm bundle reluctantly and felt bereft as soon as the infant left her arms.

"What will you name her?" Iroh crooned softly at the baby, touching a chubby cheek with the tip of his finger.

The royal couple exchanged a look. Mai shrugged and then thought deeply for a moment. "It's spring, late spring, but still spring and she's more beautiful than any flower, so how about…"

"Akina*," Zuko grinned. "That's perfect."

Mai nodded and smiled back at her husband. "I thought so." She felt tired but euphoric and the terrible pain that she had endured was all but forgotten.

"Hello, little Akina," Iroh said softly. "Welcome to the world."

He handed her back to Mai and then slipped silently out of the room. The new family needed some time alone, he figured. He glanced back over his shoulder and watched as Zuko sat on the edge of the bed, all his attention focused on Mai and Akina, his arm encircling them both and pulling them in close to his chest. They were his world and he would do anything to keep them safe. Iroh understood that feeling very well.

*Akina means spring flower in Japanese
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Everything Happens in Ba Sing Se